Condenser



Nov. 10, 1931. E. L. BOWLES 1,831,093

CONDENSER Filed April 15, 1925 FIG. I

FIG. W

INVENTOR EDWHRD L. BOWLES flM am A TTOPNE Y Patented Nov. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l CONDENSER Application filed April 13, 1925.. Serial I'D-22,870.

The present invention relates to electric condensers, and more particularly to fixed condensers.

A chief object is to provide an improved fixed condenser that shall be easy and cheap to manufacture and very efiicient in opera tion.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part specifically mentioned in the description contained hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Fi I is a plan of a condenser constructed acoor mg to a preferred embodiment of the present in- F vention; Fig. II is an underside plan' of the same; Fig. III is an elevation of the same; Fig. IV is a perspective view of several conducting and insulating sheets of a condenser arranged according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. V is a diagra matic view, in section, illustrating the pre erred construction of a condenser manufactered according to the present invention; Fig. VI is a plan of a modified insulating plate; and Fig. VII is a view similar to Fig. I of a condenser containing the insulating plate of Fig. VI.

The preferred condenser of the present invention comprises a stack of alternately disposed, thin, conducting sheets 9 and 11, like tinfoil, and thin. insulating sheets 10, like mica. It is preferred to have the sheets discshaped, with the diameters of the insulating discs somewhat larger than the diameters of the conducting discs. The conducting sheets 9 are each provided with diametrically opposed lips 14 and 15, and the conducting sheetsgll are each provided with similar, oppositely disposed lips 12 and 13. The lips 12, 13, 14 and 15 project beyond the peripheries of the insulating sheets 10, as illustrated The lips 12 of the group of sheets 9 are all disposed in alinement, as shown in Fig. V, and, naturally, so are the lips 15. The lips 12, and 13, of the group of sheets 11 are similarly alined, as will be understood. The alined lips 14 are midway disposed between the lips 12 and 13, the lips 12 midway between the lips 14 and 15, and'so on, the lips being staggered and separated from each other by substantially ninet -degree intervals. The conductin sheets 0 the group of sheets 9 alternate with the conducting sheets of the group of sheets 11. The stack of conducting and insulating sheets is disposed between two insulating,'55 disc-shaped plates 4 and 5.

- The stack and the plates 4 and 5 are disposed between two sheet-metal holders 1 and 2, each provided with a body portion 26 and 28, respectively, and two arcuate arms, indicated at 30, 32, 34 and 36, respectively, bent at right angles to the body portion. The body portion 26 is in engagement with the plate 4 and the body portion 28 in engagement with the plate 5. The arms 30 and 32 respectively contact tightly with the lips 14 and 15, and the arms 34 and 36 with the li s 12 and 13. Electrical contact is thus established between each holder and the sheets 9 or 11, as the case ma be, of one of the groups. The arm 30 is provided with an end portion 38 that is bent parallel to the body portion and pressed into intimate engagement with the plate 5 at a time when the stack is under pressure. The arm 32 is similarly provided with a similarly bent end portion 40 that is pressed into intimate engagement with the plate 5. The holder 1 thus presses against both sides of the stack of sheets and interposed plates 4 and 5, effecting a firm holding action to hold the stack and the plates 4 and 5 together. The holding action is increased by reason of the fact that the holder 1 is wider throughout than the holder 2 and the end portions of the arms 32 and 34 are arcuate, which tends to prevent the end portions opening out easily when 'the above-mentioned pressure upon the stack is relieved. The end portions 38 and 40 each extends over a compartively large portion, like a third, of the area of the condenser. The holding pressure of the holder 1 tends, therefore, to become equalized throughout the. area of the condenser. The arms 34 and 36, however, are merely beaded or crimped or turned over at their ends 42 and 44 in order that the holder 2 may be held in position upon the stack without falling ofi. The turning, beading or crimping action may be eflected while the stack is under pressure or after the holder 1 readily. A very compact, easily manufactured condenser is thus provided at small cost, comprising two holders each having arms in intimate contact with alternate con ducting sheets, one of which serves also as a clamp to hold the stack of sheets together, and the other of which is held in place upon the stack without clamping action, but useful for the urposes of an electric terminal.

E ectrical connection to the condenser may be made by means of terminals 6 and .7. These may consist of binding posts, projecting rods, pins, and the like, but it is referred to make them of lugs that are struc or bent up integrally out of the body portions of the holder. It 1s, of course, essential to have the holders insulated from each other, and the insulating plates 4 and 5 fulfill this requirement admirably. They should be made relatively thick, so as to be stifl enough to transmit the pressure of the holders to the stack.

If greater stifiening action is desired, metal plates may be used instead of the insulating plates '4 and 5, provided that insulating bar- I riers are provided between them and the holders. To obviate any tendency of the holders slipping upon the stack, and thus possibly coming into contact with each other, one or both of the insulating plates 4 and 5 may be slightly flattened along their peripher as shown at 46, Figs. VI and VII, and the olders ma be bent against the flattened portions, as is il ustrated and described in a copending application, Serial No. 15,769 filed March 16, 1925. The flattened portions 46 may be provided by making four tangential cuts, ninety diegrees apart, along the periphery of the ates. p It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact embodiments thereof that are illustrated and described herein, but that modifications may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from its spirit and scope, as defined 1n the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of the class described comprising a holder havin a body portion and two oppositely disposed arcuate arms, and a discaped member held between the arms of the holder, the body ortion of the holder engaging one side of t e member, and the ends of the arms having portions engaging the other side of the member, the said portions of the arms each engaging substantially a third of the area of the condenser, whereby the member is pressed firmly in position between the body portion and the arms of the holder.

2. An article of the-class described comprising two holders each having a body por tion and two oppositely disposed arcuate arms, and a disc-shaped member held between the holders, the body portion of one of the holders engaging one side of the member, the body portion of the other holder engaging the other side of the member, the arms of one of the holders being alternately disposed with the arms of the other holder, the arms engaging portions of the member disposed between the said sides, the arms of one holder having portions engaging the side of the member that is engaged by the body portion of the other member, and the ends of the arms of the other holder being turned to cause the said other holder to be held in place.-

3. A condenser comprising a stack of alternately disposed disc-shaped conducting layers and insulating layers, the conducting layers being arranged in two groups, the conducting layers of each group alternating with the conducting layers of the other group, two conducting holders between which the stack is disposed, the holders being insulated from each other, one of the holders being insulated from one of the groups and electrically connected with'the other group and the other holder being insulated from the said other group and electrically connected with the said one group, and two insulating discshaped members interposed between the stack and the holders, the holders each having a body portion in engagement with one of the members and two diametrically opposite arcuate arms disposed at right angles to the body portion, each arcuate arm of each holder being disposed between the two arcuate arms of the otherholder along the sheets each having diametrically opposed lips projecting beyond the insulating sheets, the

conducting sheets being arranged in two groups, with the lips of each group in alinement with each other, the alined lips of each group being disposed at substantially ninetydegree intervals, the conducting sheets of each group alternating with the conducting sheets of the other group, two conducting holdersbetween which the stack is disposed, and two insulating disc-shaped plates interposed between the stack' and the holders, the holders each having a body portion in engagement with one of the plates and two diametrically opposite arcuate arms bent at right angles to the body portion and the arms of each holder contacting with the oppositely disposed lips of one of the oups, the ends of the arms of one of the ho ders being bent parallel to the body portion and each engaging approximately a third of the plate that is engaged by the body portion of the other holder, the body portion of the other holder being com aratively thin so as not to 'contact with t e said ends of. the arms, the body portion of the said one holder being comparatively wide, and the holders being insulated from each other, whereby the said one holder serves as a clamp.

5. A condenser comprising a stack of alternately disposed disc-shaped conducting sheets and insulating sheets each having diametrically opposed lips projecting be 0nd the insulating sheets, the'conducting sheets being arranged in two groups, with the lips of each group'in alinement'with each other, the alined lips of the two grou s being disposed at substantially ninetyegree intervals, the conducting sheets of each group alternating with the conducting sheets of the other group, two sheet-metal holders between which the stack is disposed, and two insulating disc-shaped plates interposed between the stack and the holders, the holders each having a body portion in engagement withone of the plates and two diametrically opposite arcuate arms bent at ri ht angles to t e body portion, and the ends 0 the arms of each holder contacting with the diametrically opposed lips of one of the groups, the ends of the arms of one of the holders being bent parallel to the body portion into engagement with the plate that is engaged by the body portion of the other holder, the ends of the arms of the other holder being turned to cause the said other holder to be held in place, lugs being bentout of the body portions to serve as terminals, and the holders being insulated from each other.

6. A condenser as defined in claim 5 in which one or both of the lates are provided with one or more flattened portions and with the holders conforming in shape to the flattened portions to prevent relative movement of the parts of the condenser.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto sub scribed my name.

EDWARD L. BOWLES. 

